Governor Jeff Landry talks coastal restoration and oil and gas production during a press conference at Nicholls State. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock says Governor Landry asked him personally to head the Department of Children and Family Services, an agency facing multiple challenges.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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College students will have to wait longer to find out how much financial aid they could receive because of new FAFSA forms. Ebony Holmes with LA Office of Student Financial Assistance says this could result in financial aid offers not being made until April. Holmes admits it’s not ideal…

Cut 3 (08) “….me financially.”  

The new FAFSA is a product of the FAFSA Simplification Act passed in 2022 to streamline the financial aid application and expand access to federal Pell Grants.

For students, Holmes says this will shorten their period between knowing the amount of financial assistance they will receive and what college they can afford. the National College Attainment Network has resources to help students determine their amount of financial aid

Cut 4 (13) “…may help.”

The form is usually released in October, but the updated version wasn’t released until December 30. The form was updated a second time this month to include inflation data.

Holmes says the rollout has been bumpy, but the plus side…

Cut 5 (10) “…in funding.”  

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Governor Jeff Landry named former state lawmaker and Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove as the Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Landry says Dove is the right man to ensure that coastal restoration projects are built swiftly and economically…

Cut 6  (12) “…can survive.” 

Landry says Dove took the job because he wants to restructure the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority…

Cut 7 (07) “…protect our coast.” 

Landry also named petroleum engineer Ben Bienvenu as the Commissioner of Conservation. He says Bienvenu and Natural Resources Secretary Tyler Gray will work to increase refining capacity in Louisiana…

Cut 8 (11) “…the country.” 

Landry says Louisiana refines 21-percent of the crude oil that’s down from 23-percent eight years ago and the governor wants to get that two-percent back.

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Three weeks into his position as Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock recognizes changes need to be made to better assist children and families. The previous administration struggled with a lack of caseworkers and overwhelming child welfare caseloads.

Cut 9 (12) “…talk to them.”

Matlock says he wants to know what can be done for them to return to DCFS or take suggestions on what can be done to help caseworkers going forward.

He also wants to hear from foster parents and Matlock encourages individuals to reach out to foster parents and offer to help them, with simple things like bringing them a meal or offering to babysit.

Cut 10 (11) “…support it.”

Matlock says the department is in desperate need of cars for caseworkers that transport children and those vehicles are often the office for caseworkers.

A strike force has been created to focus on the hiring of and retention of caseworkers. Matlock says it will take more than compensation to fill those positions, it’s a matter of making the job sustainable.

Matlock says Governor Jeff Landry asked him to come out of retirement to lead the department and that the governor also wants to meet with foster parents personally and address their needs.

Cut 11 (11) “…so much.”

Matlock also encourages individuals to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, also known as CASA, to make a difference in a child’s life.

Bittersweet Confections bakery social media post reminded followers of operating hours to purchase their sweet treats but one individual paid the bakery a visit on his own time. Teiko Foxx explains…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

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Despite opposition from truckers, the House and Senate Transportation Committees approve of Governor Jeff Landry’s funding plan for a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Bittersweet Confections bakery motto is “Let them eat cake” but not without paying for them. A king cake thief broke into the New Orleans bakery last week and stole cash, a case of vodka, and seven king cakes with the plastic babies inside. Owner Cheryl Scripter says watching her surveillance video gave her an uneasy feeling…

Cut 3 (10) “….and creepy”  

King cake thieves also hit up King Cake Drive Thru in New Orleans Monday night.

Scripter says she was alerted of the burglary after 5 pm after she closed the store to visit her second location. She says she’s not flattered the thief returned for her tasty rings of pastry with purple, green, and gold sugar.

Cut 4 (12) “…king cakes.”

Scripter says the bakery social media post received more than 100 likes of support. And while the action is disheartening, she says the support from individuals who stop by the store is overwhelming…

Cut 5 (12) “…my face.”  

Scripter encourage all king cake lovers to visit bittersweetconfections dot com to order their favorite flavor.

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We’re seeing a slight uptick in gas prices with the statewide average for a gallon of regular gas at $2.82, that’s up two cents from the day before and seven cents from a week ago. Triple A fuel analyst Don Redman says the increase is linked to the price of crude.

Cut 6  (10) “…a barrel.” 

As we approach spring, which typically begins sooner in the Gulf South compared to the rest of the country, Redman says we usually see an increase in gas prices as refineries transition to summer-grade gasoline and demand goes up.

Cut 7 (11) “…the summer.” 

Redman is quick to point out that the oil market is also reactionary to world news and depending on the United States’ response to three servicemen being killed in a drone attack in Jordan, we could see prices impacted as a result.

Cut 8 (12) “…world stage.” 

This time last year regular gas was $3.25 a gallon.

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The defending champion LSU women’s basketball team has its first two-game losing streak since 2022 as the Lady Tigers lost last night to Mississippi State 77-73. Coach Kim Mulkey says they are not executing defensively…

Cut 9 (12) “…doing it”

The loss drops LSU’s record to 18-4 and 5-3 in the SEC. The Lady Tigers returned two starters from last year’s national championship team. Mulkey says the team is missing that experience that last year’s championship team possessed…

Cut 10 (10) “…things get tough.”

The ninth-ranked Lady Tigers next game is Sunday at home against Florida.

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While Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s not making a formal announcement, he does plan to seek re-election in 2026. The moderate Republican will have to win his party primary with new election laws in effect then.  He says changing to party primaries is too costly with an estimated price tag of $61 million over three years and $135 million over ten years.

Cut 11 (11) “…$60 million.”

About 28 percent of Louisiana voters who are unaffiliated will be able to vote in the party primary of their choice but not both. Individuals who are registered as an Independent, Libertarian, or Green Party will not be allowed to vote in the primary elections, only the general election. Cassidy says this excludes thousands of voters from the primaries.

Cut 12 (09)  “…the election.”  

Cassidy says there’s a point-four-five cent state sales tax that will sunset next year. He says this is not the time to add expenses to the state budget when they could potentially lose income.

Cut 13 (12) “…pocket.” 

The change to party primaries will only apply to Congressional, state school board, Public Service Commission, and state Supreme Court judicial elections.

Governor Jeff Landry’s Education Policy Council provides its recommendations on improving public education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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To increase public awareness of police misconduct in the state, The ACLU of Louisiana has launched a comprehensive dashboard of police killings and violence. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Governor Landry’s K-12 Education Policy has released its recommendations for improving public education. Erin Bendily with the Pelican Institute for Public Policy served on that committee and she says one of their recommendations is to expand school choice…

Cut 3 (10) “….right now”  

Bendily says there are options to traditional public schools, including home schooling, charter schools and micro schools, which are smaller schools loosely structured with private schools.

Republicans in the Legislature the last couple of years have pushed for education savings accounts. Bendily says they are optimistic it will approved this year and that would allow families to use state dollars to pay for private schools or other learning expenses…

Cut 4 (10) “..home schooling options”

Bendily says K-12 education policy council also recommends bolstering teacher recruitment efforts and provide flexible state funding for teacher compensation to allow school systems to meet their greatest local workforce needs…

Cut 5 (10) “…that area”  

Bendily says the report also recommends that the state revamps its school rating system. She says schools should receive more credit for improving students’ scores on standardized tests, even if the overall score is below average.

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Louisiana has not executed anyone since 2010 but Governor Jeff Landry will push for legislators to find new ways to carry out executions in next month’s special session. Landry says the session will focus on crime and highlight the suffering of victims’ families whose killers remain on death row.

Cut 6  (07) “…the criminals.” 

The state has had trouble obtaining the drugs to carry out executions.

Landry says other states including Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama have continued capital punishment despite a shortage of drugs by pharmaceutical  companies. He says death penalty cases can be lengthy and cost the state millions.

Cut 7 (12) “…to victims.” 

Alabama became the first state to use nitrogen gas as a new method to execute a death-row prisoner last week. Landry opposed granting clemency to more than 50 death row inmates last year.

Landry says there are families across the state that have suffered tremendously from the loss of a loved as a result of crime. He says the state has promised those families justice.

Cut 8 (08) “…our contracts.” 

The state currently has 59 people on death row.

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To increase public awareness of police misconduct in the state, The ACLU of Louisiana has launched a comprehensive dashboard of police killings and violence. ACLU Data Analyst Elijah Appelson says they created the dashboard to increase accessibility to the data and amplify the voices of individuals who are victims of police violence.

Cut 9 (09) “…the violence.”

A third reason for the dashboard is to ensure police accountability.

Appelson says as they compiled the data, they found three disturbing trends. Between January 2013 and January 2024, there have been 116 police killings over the 132-month period, almost one a month.

Cut 10 (09) “…white people.”

The data also indicated 76 percent of those police killings were for non-violent offenses. For example, traffic stops, domestic disturbances, and mental health checks.

Because there are no mandates for law enforcement to report misconduct, Appelson says policing data is difficult to come. The ACLU is hoping the public will gain a better understanding of the prevalence of police violence in Louisiana and that local agencies can do their own analysis with the data.

Cut 11 (09) “…their community.”

The ACLU also encourages those who’ve been victims of police violence to report such incidents on their website.

You can view the dashboard at LAaclu.org

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In Avoyelles Parish 36-year-old Joshua Nugent was killed Saturday after he barricaded himself in his Evergreen home. Sheriff’s deputies were called after Nugent allegedly made bomb threats to his neighbors and destroyed property.  Master Trooper Casey Wallace says State Police negotiators and SWAT also assisted.

Cut 12 (10)  “…that incident.”  

Wallace says they negotiated with Nugent for several hours.

Cut 13 (11) “…looking for.” 

The investigation is ongoing.

The Advocate is reporting Governor Jeff Landry wants to restart executions of death row inmates. Jeanne Burns has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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A daughter of former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards is telling her story in the book The Life and Times of a Governor’s Daughter. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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LSU Tigers fans will get an in depth look into the lives of the college’s top NIL earners in a new docuseries set to be released later this year. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The Advocate newspaper reports Governor Jeff Landry will look to restart executions in Louisiana. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s not a surprise since Landry has made it known that he wants to deter crime…

Cut 4 (11) “…across Louisiana.”

Louisiana has not executed anyone since Gerald Bordelon in 2010. Before Bordelon’s execution, the state’s last execution was in 2002. Pinsonat says Landry could support a death penalty bill in the upcoming special session on crime…

Cut 5 (07) “…on death row” 

Executions have stopped in Louisiana because former Governor John Bel Edwards opposed the death penalty. Also, the drugs needed to carry out an execution have been difficult to obtain. But Alabama just used nitrogen gas to execute a death-row prisoner. Pinsonat believes Landry was paying attention…

Cut 6 (08) “…to use.”

There are currently 59 people on death row.

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“The Life and Times of a Governor’s Daughter,” the autobiography of Victoria Edwards, tells the story of her life as Governor Edwin Edwards’ second oldest child and how their tumultuous relationship came full circle before his death. Now 71, the former model, actress, and high school teacher says she felt motivated to tell her story.

Cut 7 (11) “…the book.”

Looking back, Edwards says she finally understood why she had such a rocky relationship with her father one, because they were so much alike, and second because she was bipolar, a diagnosis she didn’t receive until her 40s. She says their relationship was mended before he passed away.

Cut 8 (10) “…on everything.” 

Being bipolar Edwards says her sister often reminds her that she doesn’t have a filter and that she needs to think before she speaks often. Edwards says while she can be brutally honest, she hopes readers have a better understanding of the unique life she’s led and that having a good relationship with Christ is what’s most important.

Cut 9 (11)  “…really matters.”

To purchase a copy of the book email thelifeandtimes70@gmail.com

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Prime Video announce a new docuseries, The Money Game, highlighting LSU athletics and NIL earners Angel Reese, Olivia Dunne, Flau’ Jae Johnson and Jayden Daniels set to be released later this year. LSU Chief Brand Officer Cody Worsham says the project is produced by LSU Legend Shaquille Oneal.

Cut 10 (12) “…around NIL.”

LSU is home to three of the top 10 NIL earners in college sports who collectively have more than 20 million social media followers.

Worsham says production has been able to capture the full scope of the 2023 athletic year. He says the all-access pass will highlight surreal experiences of LSU’s top NIL players.

Cut 11 (13) “…they’re facing.” 

The project will provide a front row seat in the life of Angel Reese who was the 2023 Women’s Basketball Final Four Most Outstanding Player, gymnast Olivia Dunne, Flau’jae Johnson was named SEC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year, and Heisman winner and future NFL draft pick Jayden Daniels.

Worsham says NIL’s has created millionaire athletes at the college level. He says sports fans will be able to follow their journey and view new opportunities these reforms bring.

Cut 12 (11) “…Baton Rouge.” 

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The once crowded field of Republican presidential candidates is down to two. Former President Donald Trump has a commanding lead over former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow doesn’t believe Haley can overcome Trump’s lead…

Cut 13 (10)  “…to say the least.”

Sadow says many Americans would prefer the Democrat and Republican choices be candidates other than President Biden or former President Trump, but he says that fact isn’t likely to help an independent or third-party candidate…

Cut 14 (11) “…and the like.” 

Sadow says there are Republicans that would have supported other candidates like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis but the Left’s intense dislike for Trump along with indictments and negative press have roused more support for the former president…

Cut 15 (11) …Trump does.“

A compilation of polls currently shows Former President Trump with a 4 point lead over President Biden.

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Full squad workouts are underway for college baseball teams and the LSU Tigers are looking to repeat as national champions. Coach Jay Johnson likes the mindset of his team as he does not see any complacency….

Cut 16 (25) “…really positive.” 

A lot of talented players from the 2023 national champion team have moved on, so several players will need to step up. One of those guys is first baseman Jared Jones. Jones was an All-SEC freshman performer last year and will take over first base full-time now that Tre Morgan is in the pros. Johnson is excited about what the Bear can do in his sophomore season…

Cut 17 (24) “…right now.” 

Johnson has brought in a talented freshman class. One of the headliners is Jake Brown from Sulphur High School. He was the Gatorade Louisiana Baseball Player of the Year as he was outstanding on the mound and at the plate. Johnson is impressed by Browns’s versatility…

Cut 18 (19)  “..the ball.” 

A proposed 10 billion dollar Liquefied natural gas export terminal project in Cameron Parish is in jeopardy as a result of a decision by the President. Jeff Palermo explains…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The LSU Lady Tigers lost to top ranked South Carolina on Thursday night and a king cake was murdered before on national TV before the game. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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The Biden Administration is placing a pause on pending liquefied natural gas export terminals, which puts in jeopardy the construction of the 10-billion dollar Calcasieu Pass 2 terminal project  in Cameron Parish. President Biden says they want to examine the impact LNG exports have on energy costs, energy security and the environment. Louisiana Bucket Brigade director Anne Rolfes applauds the decision

Cut 3 (12) “….took action”  

But Economist Loren Scott says this decision jeopardizes the state’s economic growth…

Cut 4 (12) “..pulled the trigger”

Scott says the U-S ships LNG to Europe so they don’t have to count on Russia for natural gas. He says if U-S limits what they supply to Europe, they’ll be forced to use coal fire power plants which will lead to even more pollution….

Cut 5 (07) “…worldwide” 

Rolfes says gas export terminals are also bad for the seafood industry…

Cut 6  (11) “…oysters.” 

Scott disagrees that LNG plants are harmful to the seafood industry.

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Boise Cascade, a leading manufacturer of building materials, announces plans to invest $75 million dollars to expand and modernize its Oakdale facility in Allen Parish. Vice President Mike Brown says the company expects to create 30 new direct jobs and…

Cut 7 (08) “…the other.” 

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 77 indirect new jobs, for a total of 107 potential new jobs.

Brown says the expansion of the Oakdale facility will increase veneer production by 30 percent. He says upgrading machines and technology will also increase efficiency.

Cut 8 (11) “…new dryer.” 

Boise Cascade also has facilities in Florien and Alexandria. Mill capacity at the EWP mill near Alexandria is the largest in North America.

Brown says the facility will be able to produce up to 400 million square feet of dry veneer every year. He says the construction process will be split into stages and expects it to start later this year.

Cut 9 (13) “…new equipment.”

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Former Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick Senior passed away Thursday. He was the longest-serving DA in New Orleans from 1973 to 2003.  But Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Connick had some ups and downs in his legal career and even faced federal charges himself.

Cut 10 (12) “…evidence.”

Ciolino says some of Connick’s cases went as high as the US Supreme Court and were overturned for violations of not turning over favorable evidence to the defense.

Cut 11 (08) “…handled.”

The Mobile native moved to New Orleans at the age of two, served in the Navy, and earned his bachelor’s degree at Loyola. Ciolino says today the DA’s office is much different today compared to when Connick was at the helm.

Cut 12 (10)  “…Jason Williams.”  

Funeral arrangements are pending. He is survived by his wife Londa Connick, son Harry Connick, Junior, and daughter Suzanna Connick Jamison. He was 97.

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Authorities say the bodies of 67 year old John Moss and his wife Christina Moss of the same age were found inside of a Leesville house fire as a result of a murder-suicide Thursday. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says deputies determined the fire was intentionally set and…

Cut 13 (07) “..structure fire.” 

Craft says the Moss’s were in court that morning as a result of divorce proceedings and shortly after noon the fire was reported. He says authorities believe John shot his wife before starting the fire and then turned the gun on himself.

Cut  14 (12) “…and determine.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Governor Jeff Landry, legislators, lobbyists and business executives are in the nation’s capitol for Washington Mardi Gras festivities. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The U.S. Senate Banking Committee Heard testimony in Washington this morning about the unaffordability of flood insurance. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Today is the official opening of Washington Mardi Gras. It’s an annual party at the nation’s capital, but there’s also plenty of business taking place. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the 75th celebration has more meaning with a new state government and all the clout Louisiana’s Congressional delegation holds

Cut 3 (10) “….network” 

Alford says Louisiana businesses, lobbyists and groups budget for this event every year because it’s a great place to network…

Cut 4 (12) “..just that”

This year’s theme…Louisiana: the most interesting state in America. Alford says Louisiana is more interesting politically this year because of Mike Johnson of Bossier Parish’s sudden rise to House Speaker and Louisiana has a new governor and several new legislators…

Cut 5 (12) “…of state government.” 

Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees is serving as the king for the social events including Saturday night’s ball.

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The U.S. Senate Banking Committee Heard testimony in Washington this morning about the unaffordability of flood insurance. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy voiced his frustration with the Risk Rating 2.0 formula that decides premiums and FEMA’s lack of transparency.

Cut 6 (14) “…their budget.” 

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing legislation to cap annual premium increases at nine-percent.

When asked what should be prioritized in the legislation, President of Greater New Orleans Inc., Michael Hecht says the first is by making it affordable.

Cut 7 (10) “…paying for it.” 

And the third priority Hecht told lawmakers was funding for mitigation to reduce flood risks.

Kennedy says he was told one-fifth of policyholders would see their premiums go down as a result of the new algorithm with Risk Rating 2.0. The Republican then quoted increases of more than 300-percent in Terrebonne Parish and over 500-percent in Plaquemines Parish.

Cut 8 (12) “…these years.” 

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than 900,000 policyholders will drop out of the program over the next decade due to premium hikes.

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The Bayou State has seen significant rainfall since Tuesday, and more rainfall is expected into Saturday. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says some of the highest rainfall totals are in southeast Louisiana…

Cut 9 (13) “…Bogalusa”

A flood watch is in effect for most of southeast Louisiana until 6 PM.

Keim says rain chances are high again tomorrow. He says parishes along the coast could see locally heavy rainfall…

Cut 10 (10) “…five inches.”

Louisiana is in a swing season period with a typical winter El Nino climate pattern that creates storm formation in the Gulf of Mexico and brings heavy rainfall.

Keim says rainfall totals for the next 24 to 48 hours range from one to five inches. He says the additional rain should help saturate the soil.

Cut 11 (06) “…drought issues.”

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Former LSU football star Kayshon Boutte has been arrested after he allegedly created a fraudulent sports betting account on FanDuel Sportsbook when he was 20-years-old so that he can bet on sporting events. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says State Police has been investigating Boutte since April 2022…

Cut 12 (11)  “..Louisiana State Police”  

State Police says it investigated Boutte’s sports gambling activities from April 2022 to May of 2023. Investigators say Boutte placed more than 89-hundred wagers during that time and at least 17 were on NCAA football games. Boutte was on the LSU football team in 2022 and Moore says any bets he made as a player do not rise to criminal activity…

Cut 13 (11) “..criminal equation” 

State Police says Boutte’s alias account shows he at least six of his wagers were on LSU football, including the 2022 opener against Florida State. But Moore says the evidence shows he was not throwing games…

Cut  14 (06) “…do well”

Boutte, who is from New Iberia, has been charged with computer fraud and gaming prohibited and placing sports bets under the age of 21. He was a rookie with the New England Patriots during the 2023 football season and appeared in five games and caught two passes.

After his congressional district was completely redrawn to favor electing a Democrat, Republican Garret Graves says he’s still running for office. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Several inches of rain has fallen across most of Louisiana today and more rain is on the way. LRN chief meteorologist Bill Jacquemin reports this weather system has already delivered when it comes to producing flooding rains…

Cut 2 (29)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves, whose district was completely redrawn in the newly passed congressional map is criticizing the Republican-controlled state legislature and Governor Landry for their support of the map.  He says it could ultimately hurt the GOP’s status in the US House.

Cut 3 (09) “…boneheaded move.”

Graves, a Republican, says the legislature didn’t have to redraw the map to include a second Majority-Black district, with the potential to elect another Democrat. While he says Judge Shelly Dick made it clear she didn’t like the map passed in 2022, it was still making its way through the courts.

Cut 4 (07) “…existing map.”

Graves says the new map also jeopardizes key committee appointments in DC for Louisiana, like the Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure.  It’s a vital appointment for much-needed projects like the new Calcasieu River and Mississippi River Bridges. And more…

Cut 5 (12) “…and fix.” 

Despite frustration over his district being redrawn Graves says he plans to run for his sixth term in Congress in the fall.

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State Police reminds drivers of large commercial trucks and 18-wheelers that driving through the I-20 construction zone in Bossier City is off limits. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says accidents involving large trucks have increased on that stretch of highway that is down to one lane.

Cut 6 (12) “…begin with.” 

Last month a ban went into effect to keep large trucks from driving through the construction zone.

Buchanan says law enforcement have issued more than 200 warnings and citations. She says there are plenty of signs in the area…

Cut 7 (13) “…and Bossier.” 

Concrete barriers were added as a safety precaution to prevent drivers from leaving the travel lane and entering the area where lanes are actively being removed and reconstructed.

As work continues, Buchanan says drivers of oversize loads should remain vigilant while driving through Bossier between Hamilton Road and Industrial Drive. She encourages truck drivers to use the I-220 detour to help keep everyone safe.

Cut 8 (09) “…for everyone.” 

Travelers can check 511la dot org or download the Louisiana 511 app to monitor road condition.

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We’ve seen flooding rains for certain portions of our state as a half a foot of rain has fallen in some areas. National Weather Service Lake Charles meteorologist Doug Cramer says the Natchitoches area go soaked this morning…

Cut 9 (09) “…to the north”

Cramer says they’ve received reports of flooding of homes and businesses in Avoyelles Parish. Several highways across south and central Louisiana are under water…

Cut 10 (10) “…flood waters”

Cramer says the National Weather Service is forecasting additional rainfall for the rest of the day and into tonight…

Cut 11 (12) “…of flooding.”

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Four people were shot during a drive-by shooting in Lafayette this morning. Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says three men were standing outside of a home on Sunset Drive when shots were fired from a passing vehicle that stopped in front of the home

Cut 12 (12)  “..at the vehicle”  

Green says two of the victims are in critical condition and two are in stable condition. She says when officers arrived they found a man on the ground….

Cut 13 (10) “…gunfire” 

Green says they are looking for the person that was standing outside of the home and fired shots at the vehicle.

Mary Bird Perkins is expanding into Central and North Louisiana in a partnership with MD Clinics. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Daybreak Health, the leading provider of school based mental health services, has partnered with Livingston Parish Schools to give students free mental health classes. Teiko Foxx explains…

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he’s planning to run for congress in the newly drawn map that creates a majority-Black 6^th congressional district. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announces their expansion into Central and North Louisiana in a partnership with MD Clinics which serves a large diverse population in cities and rural communities. Mary Bird Perkins Chief Operating Officer, Jodi Conachen (Con uh kin) says they found a like- minded partner to bring quality cancer care close to home in the region…

Cut 4 (08) “…across the state.”

In Baton Rouge, Mary Bird Perkins recently launched First Phase Cancer Research Trials. Conachen says until recently you had to leave the state to find that level of research and availability of clinical trial and they plan to bring the trial to the expanded clinics….

Cut 5 (11) “…of research.” 

Conachen expects the expansion across Louisiana’s diverse culture and population to attract more cancer research and services to the area…

Cut 6 (12) “…to our area.”

Beginning April 2024 MD Clinics will become Mary Bird Perkins locations.

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New data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Louisiana added 33-hundred non-farm jobs from November to December. Louisiana Workforce Commission Chief Economist Emily DiPalma says the number of non-farm jobs was just under two-million….

Cut 7 (10) “…over the year gain.”

Dipalma says the state’s unemployment rate for December was 3.7 percent…

Cut 8 (09) “…overall.” 

Over the year, private education and health services gained 11-thousand jobs, 82-hundred construction jobs were added and the government added 71-hundred jobs.

Dipalma says New Orleans added 800 jobs from November to December, while the Shreveport metro area added 700. She thought it was significant that Shreveport added that many jobs…

Cut 9 (09)  “…700.”

Baton Rouge added 400 jobs from November to December, Monroe added 300, while Alexandria lost 300.

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The Livingston Parish School system is offering its high school students struggling with anxiety, depression or any mental illness 12 weeks of free teletherapy through a program called Daybreak. Federal Program Coordinator at Livingston Schools, Charlene Lilly, says they are the first school district in the state to offer free mental health support for students.

Cut 10 (12) “…perfect storm.”

Students can enroll by scanning a QR code or reaching out to their school counselors. Parental consent is required before Daybreak can connect students with a licensed counselor.

Lilly says the program gives the students what they need at their leisure at no cost.

Cut 11 (11) “…on Saturday.” 

Lilly says 62 percent of students in Louisiana who had mental depression didn’t receive any care over the last two years. She believes Daybreak will have a positive impact on the students and help to fill a gap.

Cut 12 (12) “…all digital.” 

Lilly says instead of being placed on a waiting list for six months to see a private doctor, through the Daybreak program, students will begin their first session in one to two weeks.

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Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says he will run for the newly created 6^th congressional seat currently held by Congressman Garret Graves. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says he’s not surprised considering the new map perfectly caters to the Black Democrat.

Cut 13 (08) “…wouldn’t he run?”

And it wouldn’t be Fields first congressional campaign. From 1993 to 1997 Fields represented the state’s then 4^th district which was then redrawn after the courts ruled it was gerrymandered. Pinsonat says with the map redrawn again, Fields’ congressional career could come full circle.

Cut 14 (09) “…the apple.” 

District 6 now spans from East Baton Rouge Parish north to Caddo Parish and Pinsonat says it’s around 54 percent majority-Black. He says Fields running for the seat is a no-brainer.

Cut 15 (06) …strongest candidate.“

Fields released a statement on Tuesday that he will formally announce his candidacy in the next few weeks.

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LSU is expected to announce the promotion of Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton as co-offensive coordinators for the 2024 season. Both have been assistants at LSU since Brian Kelly arrived. Hankton has coached the receivers and has been the passing game coordinator, while Sloan has been the quarterbacks coach and reports say Sloan will be the play caller. Tiger Rag Editor Todd Horne the move makes sense…

Cut 16 (17) “…in public’s eyes.” 

Sloan has previous play-calling experience at Louisiana Tech. He’ll have big shoes to fill as former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock helped guide one of the most explosive offenses in LSU football history. Horne believes Sloan is up to the challenge…

Cut 17 (10) “…himself with.” 

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ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has the Washington Commanders with the second over pick taking Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL draft. Daniels says he’s not paying attention to the mock drafts…

Cut 18 (20)  “…get better.” 

Some football analysts compare Daniels’ quarterback style to Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, who has won one MVP and has Baltimore in this Sunday’s AFC Championship game. Daniels says he’s just trying to be me…

Cut 19 (16) “…came before me.” 

Daniels was a dynamic quarterback last season. He believes his speed will be a big asset…

Cut 20 (15) “…over to the NFL.”

The congressional map with a second majority-Black district is getting pushback and some Republicans plan to challenge it in court.  Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Most of the state north of Interstate 10 is under a flood watch, with the heaviest rains expected to come tomorrow. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has the latest…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Bill Jacquemin” 

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Governor Jeff Landry has signed his first bills into law. They come from last week’s special session and they include a new Congressional district map and a measure that will bring party primaries to federal elections in 2026. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the governor wanted closed party primaries for nearly all elections, but didn’t push the issue…

Cut 3 (10) “…he’s known for.”

The new Congressional District map drastically changes the 6th district currently represented by Republican Garret Graves. If Graves runs for re-election in the 6th district, he’s expected to face strong opposition from a Democrat, possibly state senator Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge. Alford says if Graves’ is not re-elected, his days in politics are not over…

Cut 4 (13) “..somewhere.”

Up next for Governor Landry and the state legislature is a special session addressing crime. It’s expected to begin a month from now. Alford says the governor has not laid out his exact plans for the special session, but lawmakers are already proposing ideas…

Cut 5 (15) “..mental health issues.” 

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The congressional map with a second majority-Black district passed in the special session is getting pushback from some Republicans. St. Bernard Parish Representative Mike Bayham says the map that stretches the 6^th congressional district from parts of East Baton Rouge Parish to parts of Caddo Parish resembles one the courts struck down in the 90s.

Cut 6 (12) “…demographics” 

Bayham is among a group that plans to challenge the map in court. He says this map also separates a neighborhood in his own legislative district of St. Bernard Parish.

Cut 7 (11) “…absurb.” 

He says the other side of the street is in the 2^nd Congressional District.

Bayham says the map is ducking in and out of neighborhoods in St. Bernard Parish and it’s more like an abstract painting versus a map that represents a community of interest.

Cut 8 (10) “…Federal map.” 

This is also the map favored and signed by Governor Jeff Landry.

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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who was the lone Republican in the state’s congressional district who voted in favor of The Biden Administration’s Infrastructure bill says the state will benefit immensely from investments in broadband. For example, in northwest Louisiana…

Cut 9 (05) “…investment there.” 

And part of that investment Cassidy says is teaching and preparing students as young as elementary school for a career in computer science.

Infrastructure funds will also go towards an I-20 corridor Amtrak line connecting Atlanta and Dallas. Cassidy says it also includes the cities of Shreveport, Ruston, and Monroe.

Cut 10 (11) “…to live.”

Cassidy says his congressional-directed spending is also benefiting Barksdale Airforce Base and the vision for northwest Louisiana to become a cyber hub. Another project he mentions is one to help the Department of Defense better train pilots in conducting rescue missions.

Cut 11 (08) “…even more.”

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LSU Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels was named today as the winner of the 2023 Manning Award, which goes to the top quarterback in the nation. Daniels led the nation with nearly five-thousand yards of total offense

Cut 12 (12)  “…being here”  

This is the 20th year of the Manning award and Daniels is the third LSU honoree. Joe Burrow and Jamarcus Russell are the other two winners from LSU. Saints legend Archie Manning says Daniels 2023 campaign will go down as one of the greatest ever…

Cut 13 (10) “…football team” 

You might be tempted to prune foliage that was damaged during last week’s freeze, but experts encourage you to resist the urge. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new Congressional district map approved by lawmakers. Jeff Palermo reports the new map makes it harder for Republican Garret Graves to get re-elected this year…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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After last week’s deep freeze, chances are your lawn isn’t as attractive as it used to be, and you might be tempted to prune away unsightly foliage. LSU Ag Center Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard says not to because the damaged leaves will protect the plants from the next freeze.

Cut 3 (09) “…bounce back.”

Kirk-Ballard also discourages you from fertilizing because you don’t want to encourage new growth when we’ll most likely have another freeze. She says to hold off until late March, or early April to prune and fertilize your garden.

Cut 4 (10) “…that time.”

To further protect your plants, especially the tropical or tender ones that received damage, Kirk-Ballard says to keep them covered and to add mulch.

Cut 5 (08) “…be patient.” 

But if you’re unable to resist the urge and choose to go ahead and remove the dead foliage, she encourages you to then cover the plant and insulate it with mulch to further protect it.

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A wet week is coming up for the Bayou State. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says to expect heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding through Thursday..

Cut 6 (07) “…higher amounts” 

Jacquemin says forecasts show average rainfall totals between four and eight inches through the week, with the possibility of  higher amounts. He says localized flooding for urban and poor drainage areas is possible and water levels for multiple river basins will rise…

Cut 7 (12) “…of Louisiana.” 

Jacquemin says the first round of heavy rainfall will arrive late tonight into Tuesday and flood watches and warnings are possible…

Cut 8 (09) “…do occur” 

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The political future for Baton Rouge Republican Garret Graves is cloudy after the Louisiana Legislature approved a new Congressional map that turns his district into a second Black-majority district. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Graves has served in Congress since 2015 and his re-election chances for this year have taken a major hit

Cut 9 (04) “…big disadvantage” 

Graves’ current district includes the Baton Rouge capitol region, down the Mississippi River, and into Thibodaux, Houma, and Morgan City.

The new sixth Congressional district will stretch from Baton Rouge through Alexandria and Natchitoches and into Shreveport.

A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to draw a new map after it was determined the one approved in 2022 underrepresented the Black vote by not having two majority-minority districts. Pinsonat expects a lawsuit contesting this latest map…

Cut 10 (05) “…the Constitution”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is not happy the Louisiana Legislature drew a new map. He believes they should have demanded a federal trial on the map approved in 2022. Pinsonat says the Congressional redistricting battle is far from over…

Cut 11 (11) “…one particular district”

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Jury selection is underway in the re-trial of Cardell Hayes. He fatally shot former Saints star Will Smith in 2016. Hayes says the shooting was in self-defense after an argument erupted following a car crash in the Garden District. Hayes was convicted of manslaughter, but it was tossed out due to a non-unanimous jury verdict. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says typically the defense has an advantage in re-trials

Cut 12 (10)  “…and accuracies”  

10 of the 12 jury members who sat through Hayes’ first trial determined he was guilty of manslaughter. Ciolino says if the jury splits again, it’s a victory for the defense…

Cut 13 (12) “…plea” 

Hayes has been free since 2021. The judge expects the trial to last about a week.